Brave Summer turns three

A brave little girl is spending her third birthday in hospital as she waits for a second heart transplant.

Summer Carss, from Shilbottle, will celebrate the occasion on November 4, at the Freeman Hospital’s Child Heart Unit in Newcastle, after being admitted in September.

The youngster was born with a condition affecting the valve on the left side of her heart.

She had a transplant in September last year after waiting an agonising six months for a donor.

But the day after she celebrated a year of having the organ, her parents Julie and Paul, found out that it was failing.

Doctors found that she had coronary artery disease, which is normally seen in elderly patients and is very rare in someone of Summer’s age.

She was put on a Berlin heart, an artificial machine outside her body, and is now waiting for another donor.

On Monday, a small party will be held for her to mark her birthday, with an expected appearance from a Disney princess.

Julie said: “Summer is doing really well; she’s hardly on any medication, just the Berlin heart.

“She is just taking everything in her stride and is really chirpy.

“The only time she gets upset is when she has her dressings done.

“She’s such a little character and keeps the nurses entertained.

“We are getting our head around it more now, and hoping, praying and wishing her call comes soon so we can get her home for Christmas. Because the way she is at the moment, she will bounce back so quickly.”

At the moment, Summer is still fourth on the list for a donor heart, but her doctors have said it doesn’t need to be a perfect match.

Julie added: “Our families have been amazing, staying with Summer so we can have a break, bringing us supplies down, doing our laundry, but most of all supporting us and keeping us smiling.”

Summer has also been invited to see Alan Shearer dig the first sod for new parent accommodation, which is being built at the hospital, on November 11.